As a result, Browner, who signed a three-year, $16.8 million contract with New England on March 12, 2014, is a free agent. The 30-year-old was scheduled to receive a $2 million roster bonus if he was on New England’s roster at the start of the new league year, and was going to account for over $5 million against the salary cap in 2015.

But instead, the Patriots will conserve roughly $4 million against the cap, with the 6-foot-4, 221-pound corner not under contract.

Browner started the final nine regular-season games and all three postseason games for the Patriots, notching 25 tackles and an interception across from another free agent in All-Pro Darrelle Revis.